South Korean shares end slightly higher as shipbuilders jump

Aug 27, 2025, 14:10 GMT+7Refinitiv1 min read

• KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers
• Korean won weakens against dollar
• South Korea benchmark bond yield falls

(Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares ended slightly higher on Wednesday, as shipbuilding stocks jumped on U.S. investment plans, while the broader market was largely in a cautious mood ahead of major events at home and abroad.
** The benchmark KOSPIclosed up 7.80 points, or 0.25%, at 3,187.16.
** South Korean President Lee Jae Myung leaned on promises to "Make American Shipbuilding Great Again" during his first official U.S. trip this week.
** Hanwha Oceanrose 2.88%, after the shipbuilder announced a $5 billion investment in its shipyard in Philadelphia, which Lee visited after his summit meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
** HD Hyundai Miposurged 14.59%, HD Hyundai Heavy Industriesclimbed 11.11% and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineeringrose 5.91%. Samsung Heavy Industriesalso gained 6.55%.
** "There was a wait-and-see stance prevailing ahead of Nvidia's earnings," said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities. The U.S. chipmaker is due to announce its quarterly report later in the day.
** On the domestic front, the Bank of Korea is expected to keep interest rates steady on Thursday amid housing market concerns, according to a Reuters poll.
** South Korea's export growth likely slowed in August, weighed by higher U.S. tariffs, according to a separate Reuters poll. The data will be reported on September 1.
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronicsrose 0.43%, while peer SK Hynixlost 0.57%. Battery maker LG Energy Solutionslid 1.97%.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 203.1 billion won ($146.31 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,396.3 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.19% lower than its previous close at 1,393.6.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield (KR3YT=RR) fell by 1.3 basis points to 2.405%. The benchmark 10-year yieldfell by 2.1 basis points to 2.831%.
($1 = 1,388.1500 won)

Sumber : Reuters